Process of and apparatus for the manufacture of gas



3 Sheets--Shaetz 1.

(No- Model.)

B. LOOMIS.

PROCESS OP AND APPARATUS PoR THE MANUPAGTURE OP GAS.

No. 404,207. Patented May 28, 1889.

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3 Sheets-.Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. LUOMIS.

PROCESS oP AND APPARATUS PoR YPHP: MANUPAGTURP oP GAS.

.dttorney INVENTR Patrltedv May 28, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 .sheets-*sheet 3.

l B. Looms.

PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS POB. THE MANUFAGTURE OP GAS.4

'Nm 404,20712'1-g15- Patented May 28. 1889.

NV PETERS` PhnlLbngriphor. Wnhingion. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURDETT LOOMIS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS `FOR THE MANUFACTU RE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,207, dated May 28,1889.

Application filed May 24, 1887, Serial No. 239,242. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, BURDETT LOOMIS, a citi'- zen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and uscful Improvements inProcess of and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the manufacture of illuminating and heatinggas in cupola generating-furnaces in which a downdraft of air is used inthe operation of heating up the fuel, the said air-draft in my presentinvention being drawn into and down through the fuel by an eXhausterinstead of being forced in by a blower, as set forth in my patents, Nos.338,990 and 338,992, dated May 30, 1886, whereby important advantagesare gained in the ease and economy of working the generator-such aspermitting the workman to open the coal-feeding passages at the top andsupply coal, or clean down the sides of the fuelchamber withclinkering-bars, or inspect the condition of the fuel to determine itsheat and to properly arrange and distribute it for giving the besteffect, all while the exhauster is in operation and drawing air th roughthe fuel, without the danger and delay caused by flame and smoke beingblown into t-he operators face as in the old way of operating. I alsogain the important advantage of relieving the gen'- erator and body offuel from the accumulation of air and gas therein under pressure andprevent the resulting undue combustion of fresh bituminous coal at thetop of the body of fuel and the formation of hard crusts before propercoking can take place, as results when blasts of air are forced downupon the top of the fuel. Thile I was able in practice to heat a body offuel to incandescence by the air-blast forced down upon the surface ofthe fuel in accordance with my former patents, yet the air-blast wouldoften cause much annoyance by accumulating under pressure and rolling orcirculating around above the fuel, causing such active combustion thatthe Afresh coal was melted and formed into hard cakes or crusts, whichbecame so dense as to prevent the passage of air or gas, so that holesor channels were formed along the side walls and the air and steamescaped through them without proper reaction with the body of fuel, andof course without the proper production of gas. The operation ofgas-making then had to be interrupted and the crusts broken up and thefuel arranged to close the channels along the walls. By drawing the airdown and into the fuel and drawing the resulting gas down and out of thefuel I overcome the above difficulties and obtain much improved resultsin the better quality and increased yield of gas, and also in ease ofoperating the generator. Inspection of the fuel and condition of theheat can also be conveniently made through sight-holes or tubes withoutthe annoyance of smoke, since the draft is inward when the stoppers ofsuch tubes are removed. By means of the exhaust hot gaseous productsdrawn off from the generator air is heated in a tubular heater and thenflows into the generator, so that part of the heat is restored. By meansof my improved construction I provide for better keeping the ashes outof the superhef ting and fixing chamber and removing them from thecupola.

My cupola generator is made double-that is, with two fuel anddecomposing chambers and two superheating and fixing or regeneratingchambers in one shell so connected by pipes and valves that each setcomposed of a fuel-chamber and a superheating and fixing chamber can beoperated separately,.or the two sets can be operated together as oneapparatus for manufacturing gas. The cupola is provided with suitablesupply-pipes for air and steam and with takeoff pipes leading from thetop and bottom, so that air or steam can be passed up or down throughthe fuel as its varying conditions require, and products of combustionof gas can be passed off either at its top or bottom.

The m atter constitu ti n g m y in ven tion herein will be defined inthe claims. y

The details of construction and operation will be fully described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents avertical section from front to back through the cupola generator and theboiler and air-heater, partly in elevation and partlyin section. Fig. 2represents a rear view, on an Venlarged scale7 of the cu- IOO pola andthe valve boxes and pipes, partly in section. Fig. 3 represents ahorizontal section through the cupola above the grates and a top planview of other portions of the apparatus. Fig. it represents ahorizontal, section through the ash pits, gasiiues, and tuyeres of thecupola.

The cupola generator A is built of brick with a lining of lire-brick andan inclosing iron jacket which is tightly riveted in the usual manner. Acentral vertical fire-brick partition, Y, having inca-sed within thebrick the tight iron plate y, which is riveted to the outer iron jacket,divides the cupola from front to back, as shown in Fig. 3, and thehorizontal brick partition lV divides it across from front to rear,forming at the top the two fuel-chambers B B' and at bottom the twosuperhcating and fixing chambers C C'. The usual grates, l) l), andash-pits `w 'zu are provided. An opening, X', and door :12' are providedfor each ash-chamber for giving access to clean out thev ashes. Sideopenings, X X, having doors t 1: are provided above the grates forconvenience in kindling the lires, removing clinker, &c. Annular lues1?' are formed in the walls of the ash-pits, and are provided with portsor tuyeres p', opening into the ash-pits, and a short flue, p", connectseach flue P' with the vertical flue C3 below partition-licor W', wherebyproducts of combustion or gas may be passed 'from the fuel-chamber intothe superheating and fixing chamber, and superheated steam may be passedfrom the latter into the former. "ly the arrangement of flue 1)' andtuyeres y', as shown, the dust and ashes are better deposited in ash-pitu than would be the ease if there were a direct connection from theash-pit to chamber C, and it is quite important to prevent theaccumulation of ashes in chamber (l. lirici-supply openings b' L',having tight-closing lids (t u, are provided at the tops of chambers Bs.

rlhe steam -supcrheating and gasfixing chambers or regenerators C C'are, for convenience and e'liciency, arranged in the base or lower halfof the cupola. The main firebrick partition c' at one side forms llueC", connecting with v[lue l and chamber l, fer the passage ofsuperheated steam np into the fuel, or gas down into the lixing-chamber,and an opening', il, in the bottom of such partition leads from the llueinto chamber C. ln order to provide an elli'cctive and convenientheating-surface, chambers C are provided with vertical lire-brickpartitions or cheek-walls c c, extending alternately from top and bottomnearly the height of the chamber and at the proper distance apart toform vertical connecting passages or (lues. The partitions resting uponthe bottom over i'lue Z rise to within a distance of two to live inchesfrom the top of the chamber, and the partition extending .from the topprojects to within a similar distance from the betteln of the chamber,thus providing passage-ways alternately at top and bottom and betweenthe partitions. lV hen laying up the partiticms, the oil-vaporizingchambers or retorts D D' are set in position, extending transverselythrough chambers C U' and the contained partitions and opening into jiassage-u-'ays C3. Two or more retorts may be set in each chamber, andtwo, as shown, will usually be suiiicient. Their outer projecting endsare closed with tightfitting lids, and with such ends the oil-supplypipes N', having valves n', are connected. Pipes tfor supplyingwater-gas also connect with the ends of the retorts through the mediumof the gas and oil mixing chamber K', having suitable mechanical mixingapparatus. (Not shown.) An oil-supply pipe, N, having valve n, connectswith chamber K', and when oil is supplied by such pipe to the chamberthe pipe N' need not be used. A gas take-oft' pipe leads from eachfuel-chamber and each superheating and iixin g or regenerating chamber,so that gas or products of combustion can be passed off in eitherdirection. lipes F F' connect the bases of chambers C C' with the baseof the vertical steamboiler E, one pipe connecting on each side of thevertical partition of the boiler. The gas take-olif pipes of thefuel-chambers are peculiarly arranged and connected, whereby importantresults are secured, as described below.

At a distance about one-third the height of each l1'nel-chamber, belowits top, a circular horizontal flue, l), is provided in the brickwork,and is connected with the interior of the chamber by numerous shortports or tuyeres, p, inclined downward, as shown, so that fuel will notlodge in them. In operating with bituminous coal .for the manufacture ofgas in a cupola furnace it has been found quite advantageous to conductoit' the gases below the surface of the fuel, and the latter istherefore maintained at a height of from ten to twenty-five or thirtyinches above the ports p. liy this arrangement the condensable tarryvapors distilled from fresh charges of bituminous coal are compelled topass down into the heated fuel below, and are thus converted inte fixedgas. Another important ad- Xf'anta-gc arising from this arrangement andmethod of operating is that the coal is not lOO ITO

baked at the top into a hard crust or arch, since the hot-water gasrising :from the incandescent fuel below does not pass through. thefresh charges, and the latter are therefore distilled at a more moderateheat, so as to producegood coke. 'lVh ere the hot-water gas has beenpassed off directly through the fresh fuel the heat was so high as tomelt the coal and cause it to run together into coherentcakes, whichretarded the flow of gas and passage of airand otherwise interfered withthe operation of the generator. By my present improvements I overcomethese diliculties and secure much better results. Gz'ls-eduction pipes(i (nf' lead from llues I at the rear et' the cupola and connectwith thevertical pipes H H', which connect below with pipes F F', as shown inFigs. 1, 2, and Ashort pipe, g, connects pipes H H' for conducting gasfrom one fuelchamber to the other when the valves are properly adjusted,and a pipe, I, connecting with pipe g, leads to the hydraulic seal-boxP" for conducting gas off direct from either chamber of the cupola whenit is not desired to pass it through the boiler E. Pipes O, havinball-valves o' at the top, connect with pipes H H' below valve-boxes UU' for the escape of products of combustion wh en the exhauster is notin operation or when it is not desired to pass the products through theboiler.

Valve-boxes U U' are connected in pipes H H' above and below cross-pipeg, and are provided with upper seats, r', and lower seats, s, toaccommodate the ball-valves h 7i' and 'i' fi". Each ball-valve is'suitably hung upon a lever-arm attached to a rock-shaft, which passesthrough the casing and isprovided externally with an operating-handle,so that the valves can be raised or lowered upon either seat, asdesired. Similar valve-boxes, V V', having openings closed by lids c,are bolted to the pipes F F', and are provided with seats d' c" and withball-valves ff', hung and operated like those above described.

A pipe, K, having valve fi, leads from each of the pipes G G', andconnects by means of branch pipes 7s with gas and oil mixing chambersK', which connect with retorts D D' for supplying them with mixedhot-water gas and oil-vapor. Steam-supply pipes J J', having' valvesjj,connect with the bases of chambers C C'. Pipes L supply steam direct tothe fuel-chamber, one branch, L', having valve Z, connecting near flueP, and one branch, L", having valve Z', connecting with the lower partof the chamber above the grate.

Air-supply pipes connect with the tops of the fuel-chambers and with thesuperheating and fixing or regenerating chambers through the medium ofchamber Tl and vertical iiue C3. The air-supply pipe R', provided withvalves r, leads from the tubular air-heaterE' and connects with theannular flue m, built in the brick walls at the top of each fuelchamberB B', and numerous tuyeres, m', open from the Hue to the fuel-chamber. Apipe, R", Fig. 3, leads from the gas-cooler and air-heater E", and mayconnect by pipes (not shown) with chamber T in the front wall ofchambers C C. Numerous small ports, t, inclined downward, open fromchamber T into vertical flue C3, so that numerous tine streams of airmaybe mingled with and cause complete combustion of hot gaseous productspassed down from the fuel through flue P at the time of heat-ing up thechambers. The tubular heater E' acts as a cooler for products ofcombustion after passing through the boiler. It is provided with theusual smoke-boxes at the ends and with a vertical partition, e,extending from its top to near the lower ends of the tubes, and with aninlet, R, for air, just below the upper tubeplate, so that air willcirculate down around the tubes on one side of the partition and up onthe other side to pipe R', while hot gaseous products pass through thetubes and finally off through pipe lV to the eXhauster Q, by which theyare drawn off and delivered to the stack or a holder or a furnace forimmediate use. The exhaustion of gaseous products from the generatordraws the air through the heater and into the fuel-chamber. Anoutletpipe, M, leads from the top of the boilerE into the hydraulicseal-box P", and a branch, M', having ball-valve d, connects with thetop of cylinder E'. Then valve d is open, products of combustion escapeinto heater E', but when it is closed gas passes through pipe M into theseal-box. Since the end ofv pipe M is sealed by liquid in the boX, theresistance is sufficient to prevent the flow of products of combustionin that direction when valve d is open,

and also to prevent the escape of gas by backpressure; but when valve .dis closed gas passes from pipe M through the liquid seal in the usualmanner. A steaml dome or drum, S, is connected with the top of theboiler. An oil-pump, N", and elevated tank 0" supply oil to thevaporizing-retorts D. A flue, Z, having a stopper, 5, is arranged at thebase of chamber C for giving access to pipe F for cleaning it whendesired.

In order to make illulninating-gas, all the chambers of the cupola arepreferably operated together, as follows: The lids being removed, tiresare kindled on the grates and at first allowed to burn by natural draft.Coal or coke is gradually fed in till deep beds of fuel are formed andwell ignited. Then all the lids and doors of the cupola are closed,valves f f' raised upon seats e', valves h 71,' dropped upon seats s,and valve CZ opened. The exhauster Q is now started and draws gaseousproducts down through the fuel into chambers C C and causes air to flowinto the top of the fuel-chambers through flue m and tuyeres m' and intoflue C3 through chamber and ducts T t. The air-draft passes down intothe fuel and the resulting producer-gas passes through ports p' andtlues P' and p" into fiue C3, from which it may be drawn off by theexhauster and stored or used directly in a heating-furnace, or suchproducer-gas as it flows into flue C3 maybe ignited by air from chamberT and complete combustion caused in chambers C C', resulting in highlyheating the contained iire-clay partitions, and the products then passout through the boiler and air-heater, in which they are cooled by theair circulatingaround the tubes, and finally pass through the exhausterto the stack. (Not shown.)

The air-drafts are continued till beds of fuel of sufficient depth areheated to incandescence and chambers C C' are heated to the propertemperature for superheating steam and converting hydrocarbon vapor intofixed gas, after which such drafts are shut off and the exhauster may bestopped, valve d is closed, valves 72r h' are suspended between the Ico'IIO

upper and lower seats, thus providing open passages to cross-pipe g,while valves c" are closed down. Valve f is closed down upon seat (if,and valve f is opened, providing an open passage from chamber C and pipeF to the boiler and seal-box. Steam is now admitted through pipe J intothe base of chamber C, through which it passes and becomes highlysuperlieated, and then passes by way of nucl and tuyeresp up into theincandescent fuel iii chamber B, where it is decent posed, formingwater-gas, which passes by ports p below the surface of the fuel intoflue l?, and thence by pipes G, g, and G', the second iiue P, and portsp into fuel-chamber B some distance below the surface of the fuel. Inpassing down through the fuel in this second chamber carbonic acid whichmay be present in the gas is converted into carbonio oxide andhydrocarbon vapors given off from the fresh charges of bituminous coalare converted into fixed gas. By this method of operating, bituminouscoal in the form of lump or slack or dust can be successfully fed ontothe fuel above ports p, and there distilled, since the hot\ Yatei' gasdoes not pass through and melt it, and the hydrocarbon vapors evolvedpass into the het fuel below and are converted into fixed gas. Good cokeis thus produced, which descends into the chambers as the ash is removedbelow.

By the use of bituminous coal much .carburetet'l-hydi'ogen or marsh gasis produced, which is a aluable addition tothe water-gas.

'The mixture of water-gas and carbureted hydrogen passes from chamberE', through ports p and I'lues P and 1),into chamber G,wliere it iscarbureted and fixed. As gas passes from chamber B through pipe G, valvet' in pipe l( is opened, and a regulated portion of the gas is passed bypipe l( and branches 7.: into the gas and oil mixing chamber K', intowhich hydrocarbon oil is also admitted and mechanically mixed with thegas, and the carbui'eted gas is passed into retorts D,where, under ainoderatelieat, the oil vapor or gas is thoroughly diffused in thewater-gas and carried thereby into flue C3, where it meets and carburetsthe gas passing down from the fuel. The carbureted `gas passes throughfixingchaniber C,wliere it is combined and converted into a fixed gas,which passes through the boiler and pipe M to the seal-box, from whichit is conducted by pipe i\'.to cooler E, from which it enters scrubberG.

'lhe gas-cooler E is made tubular, like chamber E', and acts as a heaterfor air which is passed through it. At the time gas is passed throughthe second fuel-cliamber, B', a limited supply of steam may be admittedby pipe li into the chamber and decomposed. This will be advantageouswhen the fuel is at a very high heat. The manufacture of gas iscontinued, as above described, so long as the fuel and thefixing-chambers remain at the proper decomposing and coiivertingteml'ierature but when they are too much cooled the steam and oil areshut oif, the valves for the escape of products of combustion are adjusted, as before described, and the air-drafts again admitted bystarting the exhauster till the bodies of fuel and chambers C C areagain properly heated. During the second gas-making run the direction ofand steam through the chambers may be reversed-that is, the steam may beadmitted to and superheated in chamber C and the gas be carbureted andfixed in chamber @,and discharged from its base through pipe F. rlhus ateach successive run the direc* tion of the currents may be reversed; or,if desired, the direction of the currents maybe reversed during the run.By this method of operating, carbon which may be deposited iii thefixing-chambers during one run or pe Q riod is taken up by the steamduring a subsequent iun or period, and the chambers thus kept clean.Botli sets of chambers may be operated in this way at the same time.

Should it be desired to make illuminatinggas by the use of a separateset of chambers, they are first heated. Then valve j' raised againstseat c', while valves d and 7L are closed down, and steam is admittedinto the upper portion of the fuel through pipe L', is decomposed bypassage downward, andthe resulting gas is carbureted and fixed inchainber C and conducted ofi' through pipe F and the boiler to theseal-box; or valve f may be closed down and valve t" opened, and thepassed up through pipes F, ll, g, and I. In this latter way one set ofchambers, as B C, may be used for making illuminating-gas, while theother set, as B C ,is beinglieated up by drafts of air; or both sets maybe simultaneously heated and independently used for making gas.

Then water-gas for heating purposes is desired as the filial product ofthe generator, and the body of fuel. has been heated to incaiidescenceand the superlicatingschamber C properly heated, then valve h is raisedfrom its seat s, so as to open a passage from the fuel-chamber throughpipes G, g, and I to the seal-box. Valves fand t are closed dowii upontheir lower seats, and steam is admitted by pipe J intosuperheating-chainber C, where it is superheated, and there flows upinto the body of incandescent fuel in chamber B, where it is decomposed.'llie resulting watengas, together with gas distilled from the toplayers of bituminous coal, escapes by flue l. and pipes G, g, and I tothe seal-box. Both sets of chambers may be operated in this way toproduce water-gas for heating purposes. No oil is used in this operationfor carlnireting the water-gas; but a small amount of carbiiretedhydrogen is generated from the top layers of fresh coal and mixes withthe watergas in sufficient quantity l'o give it the desired oder andincrease its heating-power. When it is desired to generate producer-gasand .utilize it for heating purposes outside of the generator, the airis admitted to the top of IOO IlO

the body of fuel, and by operation of the eX- hauster is drawn down intoit, causing combustion and the production of carbonic oxide. Oily andtarry vapors distilled from the fresh layers of bituminous coal are alsodrawn down into the heated fuel below and converted into iiXed carbureted-hydrogen gas. My prod ucergas, composed of carbonic oxide andcarbureted hydrogen, is drawn down into chamber C, where it imparts itsheat to th e brick-work, but is not burned, since the air-supply tochamber T is closed, and is thence drawn through the tubular boiler E,where it is cooled by the circulating water, thence through the tubularair-heaterE, where itis further cooled by the circulating air, and isfinally discharged from the exhauster into a holderor into a furnace forimmediate use. It is advantageous to cool the gas by passage through atubular water or air chamber before it reaches the exhauster, in orderthat the latter may not be injured by undue heat.

Bymeans of the downward air-drafts ashes are blown or drawn down throughthe grate into the ash-pit, and the fuel is kept clean and left porous,so that it will better decom-- pose steam. An additional advantage of adowndraft drawn by an exhauster through the fuel is that the generatoris thereby made coolest at the top, and consequently can be easilysupplied with coal, cleaned of clinker, the fuel inspected, and arrangedto the best advantage without delay and annoyance caused by smoke andiiame,which usually interfere with the operator and prevent the propermanagement of the fire. The vaporizing-retorts passed through the fixingchambers afford increased carbureting-surface an d prevent the toosudden exposure of the oilvapor to the highly-heated brick, wherebywaste by burning is prevented. The ballvalves afford great convenienceand facility in operating the apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

l. rlhe process of manufacturing gas,which consists in heating' a bodyof fuel to incandescence by drafts of air drawn downward into the fueland by drawing off the gaseous products by an exhaustcr, whereby thefuel may be better fed, inspected, and arranged in the generator duringthe operation of heat ing up, then shutting off the air-draft anddecomposing steam in contact with the fuel, thereby producing water-gas.

2. The process of manufacturing gas,which v consists in heating a bodyof fuel to incandescence by downward drafts of air, and by means of theresulting gaseous products heating a superheating-Chamber and drawingoif the products by an exhauster, whereby the furnace may be charged andcleaned during the operation of the exhauster, then shutting off theair-drafts and superheating steam b y passage through thesuperheating-chamber and decomposing it by passage through theincandescent fuel, thereby producing watergas.

3. The process of producing gas,which consists in first igniting a bedof fuel within a generating-furnace, then admitting fresh air to the topof the fuel and drawing it down into and through the ignited fuel anddrawing off the resulting gaseous products at the bottom of thegenerating-furnace, whereby the generator may be open at the top andsupplied with fuel, the walls cleaned of clinker, the fire inspected,and the fuel arranged in the generator while the exhauster is inoperation without any danger and delay caused by flame and smoke beingblown into the operators face, and also whereby the coal may be bettercoked and converted into gas.

et. In combination with a gas-generating cupola or furnace, anair-supply pipe or opening connecting with the top above the fuel, andan outlet for gaseous products leading fro m the bottom, and anexhauster connecting with such outlet-pipe for drawing off gaseousproducts from thebottom of the generator, as described.

5. In combination with the gas-generating furnace, a tubular air-heater,and gas-cooler having an air-inlet and pipe connecting it with the topof the generator, an exhaustpipe for gaseous products leading from thebottom of the generator and connecting with the tubes of the heater, anda connected eX- hauster for drawing off the gaseous products through thetubes and drawing air through the chamber around the tubes and down intothe fuel, whereby the gas is cooled by the circulating air and thelatter is heated as it flows to the generator.

6. In a cupola gas-generating furnace, the fuel-chamber arranged aboveand the super heating and fixing chamber below, in combination with thevalved take-off pipe F, leading from the superheating-chamber,outletpipe G, leading from the fuelchamber, valved pipe H, connectingpipe G with pipe F, and escape-pipe O, having a closing cap or valveleading from pipe H, for the purpose described.

7. In a cupola gas-generating furnace, the two fuel-chambers and the twosuperheating and fixing chambers, in combination with valved pipes F F',pipes G G', connectingpipes I-I II', having valves h t', cross-pipe g,connecting the pipes H H between the valves, and pipe I, leading frompipe g to the sealbox, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURDETT LOOMIS.-

Witnesses:

CHAs. S. KING, EDWARD E. PAXsoN.

IOO

IIO

